1 of 1- Free Quebec
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We are on the bubble! (Seriously)
Ok, so I posted that other thread and then I just saw a bracketology prediction that has us as “Next 4 out”.
No, not for the NCAA, not even for the NIT. It’s for the “College Basketball Crown”.
Apparently there’s some new tourney a level below the NIT that is for 16 teams and will take place in Vegas. Two schools each from the Big10, Big 12, and Big East get in automatically and then the other 10 are for at large teams.
This random guy’s bracketology lists us as Next 4 out.
If you don’t want to click the link, he has:
Nebraska, Cincy, Nova, Northwestern, Penn St, TCU, Kansas State, Iowa, UCF, Utah, USC, MINN, Georgetown, Arizona State, UNLV, Oklahoma. Some of those teams didn’t even qualify for their conf tourneys.
First 4 out: Troy (who just got auto bid, so I guess Ark St takes their spot?), UAB, Samford, South Carolina
Next 4 out: GEORGE WASHINGTON, Charleston, Colorado, FAU.
I had no idea this Vegas tourney existed, and who knows if every team would even want to play in it - or even if the bids just go to teams based on ability to sell tickets to the third tier tourney - but it was nice to see that at least someone noticed us. And the theoretical chance to play the chickens to our west would be a thing.
- GWRising
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Re: We are on the bubble! (Seriously)
I have it on pretty good authority that if we win 2 games in the A-10 tournament, we will likely get a NIT bid. So let's hope that happens because it would be pretty big for a program that has been post-season starved for a long time.
- Free Quebec
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Re: We are on the bubble! (Seriously)
GWRising wrote:
I have it on pretty good authority that if we win 2 games in the A-10 tournament, we will likely get a NIT bid. So let's hope that happens because it would be pretty big for a program that has been post-season starved for a long time.
Really? A10 teams usually have to be ranked much higher to get an NIT bid. That would be very surprising to me.
That said, Rhody (or Fordham) will be a tough challenge just to get through one round. Have to play well and not look ahead to mason.
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Thread Starter- DC Native
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Re: We are on the bubble! (Seriously)
I have it on pretty good authority that if we win 2 games in the A-10 tournament, we will likely get a NIT bid. So let's hope that happens because it would be pretty big for a program that has been post-season starved for a long time.
We haven't won two games in the A10 Tourney since we last won it all in 2007. But as a fan, I am eternally optimistic...
- Gwmayhem
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Re: We are on the bubble! (Seriously)
I have it on pretty good authority that if we win 2 games in the A-10 tournament, we will likely get a NIT bid. So let's hope that happens because it would be pretty big for a program that has been post-season starved for a long time.
Really? A10 teams usually have to be ranked much higher to get an NIT bid. That would be very surprising to me.
That said, Rhody (or Fordham) will be a tough challenge just to get through one round. Have to play well and not look ahead to mason.
This is less surprising after realizing that 16 possible NIT teams of the past will be playing in Fox's tournament in Vegas instead. This may have changed, but my original understanding was that the Fox tournament was only going to be comprised of major conference teams. It was to alleviate the so-called embarrassment of big programs missing the dance and then having to either "settle" on the NIT, often playing like the team would rather be anyplace else or passing on the NIT altogether which has happened more and more in recent years.
It was meant to be Fox saying to the majors that they don't have to play against mid-majors in what has become a watered down NIT. Instead, play against similar programs to yourself. Kind of a misery loves company tournament. And, I thought this would be a great thing for the NIT. Who really wants to see or support teams that don't want to be there? Send them to Vegas and let the NIT be a high quality tournament featuring the best available mid-majors for the most part. However, if Vegas is planning on including smaller programs in its 16 team field, then this changes the dynamic. This would mean competing against the NIT for the 16 best possible teams, period. That's a much worse scenario IMO than how I believe the Fox/Vegas tournament was initially conceived.
- GWRising
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Re: We are on the bubble! (Seriously)
I have it on pretty good authority that if we win 2 games in the A-10 tournament, we will likely get a NIT bid. So let's hope that happens because it would be pretty big for a program that has been post-season starved for a long time.
Really? A10 teams usually have to be ranked much higher to get an NIT bid. That would be very surprising to me.
That said, Rhody (or Fordham) will be a tough challenge just to get through one round. Have to play well and not look ahead to mason.
Yes, partly for the reason Gwmayhem identifies. 22 wins and A-10 semis will likely be the ticket (I said likely but not an absolute lock). But agree that there is a lot of work to be done just to get there.
- creeksandzeeks
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Re: We are on the bubble! (Seriously)
I've heard similarly regarding the NIT. Doesn't hurt that so many P4 teams decline their bids to the NIT these days. I'm cautiously optimistic we'll be there, even if I'm not sure we're entirely deserving...